Four Curve Players Selected To E.L. All-Star Game
July 2, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
ALTOONA- Rosters for the 2007 Eastern League All-Star Game were announced today and four Altoona Curve players were selected to participate in the contest, which will take place on Wednesday, July 11th at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT, home of the Connecticut Defenders (AA/San Francisco Giants).
Representing the Curve and Pittsburgh Pirates at the E.L. All-Star Game will be pitchers Luis Munoz and Matt Peterson, first baseman Steven Pearce and third baseman Neil Walker.
Munoz, who participated in the Low Class-A South Atlantic League All-Star Game last season, has been selected to the Eastern League All-Star Game in his first season at the Double-A level in the Pirates' organization. The 25-year old right-hander has posted an 8-4 record and 3.36 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) this season. Munoz currently ranks tied for the second-most wins in the league (8) and his 3.36 ERA ranks 10th in the circuit. In his last start last Thursday in game one of a doubleheader against Trenton (Yankees), he tossed the Curve's first complete-game shutout of the season in a 2-0 win A native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, Munoz was signed by Pittsburgh as an amateur free agent in July 2000.
Peterson has enjoyed a stellar season as the Curve's closer. The 25-year old Louisiana native is currently the Eastern League's leader with 17 saves in 18 opportunities, while compiling a 3-0 record and miniscule 1.16 ERA (38.2 IP/5 ER) in 27 appearances. The right-hander, who was acquired by Pittsburgh in a trade with the New York Mets on July 30, 2004, spent most of his first three seasons as a starter for the Altoona Curve, but was converted to a reliever near the 2006 All-Star Break and finished the season with a solid 1.93 ERA in 14 relief outings. Peterson was originally drafted by the Mets in the 2nd round of the 2000 June Draft out of Rapides (LA) High School and spent his first 3 ½ professional seasons pitching in the New York system.
Pearce has been selected to participate in the E.L. All-Star Game despite spending the entire month of April with the Class-A Lynchburg Hillcats in the Carolina League. The right-handed hitting first baseman, who was selected by Pittsburgh in the 8th round of the 2005 June Draft out of the University of South Carolina, is currently batting .330 (67-for-203) with 19 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 50 RBI in just 58 games with the Curve and leads the league in slugging percentage (.606) and OPS (1.002). Pearce's combined 22 home runs and 75 RBI between Lynchburg and Altoona both rank third among all minor league hitters entering Monday's action. The 24-year old native of Lakeland, FL enjoyed an outstanding month of June, batting .404 (40-for-89) with eight home runs and 34 RBI in 27 games during the month. He joins Portland pitcher Clay Buchholz, Harrisburg pitcher Collin Balester and New Hampshire catcher Robinson Diaz as the only players selected to both the E.L. All-Star Game and the MLB Futures Game, which will take place this Sunday at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Walker, a converted catcher who in his first season playing third base in the Pirates' organization, is one of the youngest Eastern League All-Star Game selections at just 21 years of age. The Pirates' first round selection (11th overall) in the 2004 June Draft out of Pittsburgh's Pine-Richland High School is currently hitting .302 with 24 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 78 games for Altoona. Walker ranks among the E.L. leaders in several offensive categories, including doubles (2nd/24), extra-base hits (T-2nd/38), slugging percentage (3rd/.532) and runs scored (5th/55).
Eastern League Stories from July 2, 2007
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- Longballs Not Enough for B-Mets In Connecticut - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
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- Former Curve All-Star Tom Gorzelanny seeking MLB All-Star Game Bid - Altoona Curve
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- Three Baysox Named To 2007 Eastern League All-Star Game - Chesapeake Baysox
- Harrisburg Sends Three to Star Game - Harrisburg Senators
- Four Curve Players Selected To E.L. All-Star Game - Altoona Curve
- Thunder Send Three To All-Star Game - Trenton Thunder
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- Eastern League All Star Game Rosters Announced - EL1
- Buck Night Tonight - Erie SeaWolves
- Steven Pearce Named E.L. Player Of The Week - Altoona Curve
- Clay Buchholz Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week - Portland Sea Dogs
- EL Pitcher/Player of the Week - EL1
- Red Sox Extend Affiliation with Sea Dogs - Portland Sea Dogs
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